Dancers lift Glitterball as Come Dancing with Poppyscotland returns and raises £32k for the Armed Forces charity
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Glitz, glamour and sequins were back in force as Come Dancing with Poppyscotland returned to Inverness after a two-year absence.
The popular fundraiser, run in association with dance school Toe 2 Toe Dance took place over two nights at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel.
It smashed expectations to raise more than £32,000 for the Armed Forces charity, beating the 2020 total by over £10,000.
Strictly Come Dancing star James Wilson joined the judging panel for the competition, which saw seven novices matched with experienced dancers from Toe 2 Toe Dance.
Now in its fourth year, the event is one of the largest of its kind in the north of Scotland.
Caitlin Murray and Paul Robertson lifted the coveted Glitterball Trophy on Saturday night following hot competition. They wowed the near-capacity crowd with their dazzling quickstep and jive routines, inspired by the movies Shrek and Aladdin.
James Cook and Rachel Murray were Friday night’s champions, delighting audiences with an energetic jive and gliding across the dance floor with their Viennese waltz.
Caitlin (23), a Starbucks barista from Inverness, also waltzed off with a trophy for her fundraising efforts, raising more than £10,000 for Poppyscotland.
This was helped on the night by a surprise £5000 contribution from her former employer, Dignity Funeral Directors.
The dancers had already faced a rocky road to the final, with the competition put on hold for over a year due to the pandemic. One couple was forced to pull out just days before due to Covid-19.
Caitlin said after two years of practising, it felt great to finally be taking part.
"I had never danced before, but Paul has been so patient with me," she said.
"We’ve had a blast the whole time. I was very surprised to win, but I don’t think we could have danced any better.
"I wanted to get involved as my dad set up the veterans’ breakfast club in Dingwall.
"It was amazing to hear about their experiences, and the impact Poppyscotland has. Some of my dad’s family were in the Army, and I feel very strongly that we need to support those who have served our country."
Paul (42), a chartered accountant from Dingwall, has been dancing with Toe 2 Toe Dance for 12 years.
"It has been a long journey to get here, and Caitlin put an incredible amount of work into this," he said.
"There was a really good vibe on the night, and the atmosphere was electric."
James Cook said he had enjoyed his Come Dancing journey.
"Who knew Latin and ballroom would be a bit more technical than the macarena?" he said.
"Developing new skills while contributing to a worthwhile cause feels great!"
They and the other couples were coached by Tristian and Jennifer Hill, the husband-and-wife team who run Toe 2 Toe dance.
They were forced to take a break due to Covid-19 restrictions, which meant the couples were unable to practice with each other until training resumed last September.
There was praise for the dancers from judge James Wilson.
"I love the fact that Strictly Come Dancing can bring people together in this way and raise money for such an amazing charity," he said.
"I have veterans in my own family so was very keen to support Poppyscotland’s work.
"It was also wonderful to see people learning a new skill and getting out of their comfort zones. I thought the standard of dancing was incredibly high, as was the level of choreography and the music. They all put their hearts and souls into this and judging certainly wasn’t easy.”
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s head of fundraising, joined Mr Wilson, and international dance teachers Donna Miller-Munro and James Montgomery on the judging panel.
"We are very grateful to Toe 2 Toe Dance, all our sponsors and supporters, and the audience for their incredible generosity." Mr Michie said.
"We had hoped to beat 2020’s total, but this surpassed all our expectations.
"This event was a belated celebration of 100 years of the poppy, which was first sold in 1921. For more than a century, we have been very proud to support the Armed Forces community across Scotland, providing advice, support, and a range of welfare services to countless men, women, and their families.
"This money will help us to continue this life-changing work and recognise their service and the sacrifices they continue to make every day."
